They had been troubled by the
sensation of finding themselves out of their accustomed groove, and had
found the world confusing. Most often they seemed to him to have been
oppressed by the need of deciding what they should do, and how they
should meet trifling unforeseen emergencies.
"It is impossible to be spiritually calm except in seclusion," one of
them said.
Involuntarily Maurice looked at the speaker, feeling that this must be
mere cant. It struck him as nonsense, yet one glance at the serene,
honest face of the deacon who spoke, with its tender, candid eyes, like
those of a pure girl, was enough to convince him of the entire
sincerity of the words. He sighed, and turned away; as he did so he
caught the eye of Philip, who was watching him with solicitous
attention. Maurice put his hand on the arm of his friend, and led him
away.
"Why did you look at me that way, Phil?" he asked. "Does it seem to you
that spiritual calm is the best thing in life?"
Ashe was silent a moment. Maurice noted that he looked thinner than of
old, and reproached himself that he had seen so little of his friend
during their absence from the Clergy House.
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